Review of Rebel Without a Cause (1955) by Daniel A — 13 Sep 2011

When a celebrity dies young and immediately receives cult status it can be interesting to ponder whether their life's work (no matter how short) really warranted such praise. In the case of James Dean, going solely off his performance in 1955's Rebel Without A Cause, I believe his status as one of Hollywood's most iconic bad boys is utterly justified.

The film follows young Jim Stark, a rebellious teen who not only struggles to maintain peace with his middle-class parents but must also attempt to make new friends, and indeed avoid making new enemies, as he moves to a new town. Once there he befriends a self-conscious classmate nicknamed Plato, who yearns to be loved in light of his broken family and underlying homosexuality (something I completely missed while watching but subsequently read about after viewing the movie). Jim also meets Judy, a beautiful and equally angst ridden teenager whom he quickly falls for. This prompts Judy's boyfriend Buzz and his gang of jock cronies to harass Jim, and we see them challenge him to a knife fight and a 'chicken' competition involving speeding cars and a cliff, with disastrous consequences.

As an actor Dean impresses throughout the movie, via his compelling portrayal of a rebel whom the audience immediately sympathise and root for. However it's as a pure screen presence that Dean's talents are most overwhelming. From the opening scene there's something indescribably hypnotic about his manner which prevents the viewer from looking away even for an instant while he's on screen. It's an effortless magnetism rarely seen in an actor so young.

Supporting him in the cast are Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo playing Judy and Plato respectively. Both were nominated for Academy Awards and show great potential for bright futures. Mineo in particular shows himself to be a fine young actor, tackling a difficult character with zeal and holding his own admirably. The film also marks the first big-screen appearance of Dennis Hopper.

Director Nicholas Ray does a fine job of translating his story to celluloid. He provides a vivid aesthetic, filled with rich colours to match the equally rich performances he draws from his actors. This does much to elevate the already fascinating plot that continues to resonate with viewers more than 55 years on. It's clear to see that Rebel's troubled suburban family-based plot is one that has influenced dozens of others over the years, and still represents an issue that many modern families struggle with; a lack of communication between parent and child.

As such Rebel Without A Cause is arguably one of the most important films of the 1950s. It shows modern film fans exactly why Dean is such an icon, and beyond that presents a well made and well acted drama, reminding us that teen angst and poor parenting are nothing new to our society, but have been issues since our parents were teenagers, and maybe even their parents before them.